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Argentina\u2019s scrum may lack of the potency of old but Dan Cole insists it remains a significant threat to England\u2019s goal of making a triumphant start to their World Cup.<\/p>\n
Two sides who take pride in their forward dominance collide in Pool D\u2019s highest-profile fixture in Marseille on Saturday, with the winners placing one foot into the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s last great scrum was 2015 when feared props Marcos Ayerza and Ramiro Herrera helped them reach the World Cup semi-finals, but more strings have now been added to the Pumas\u2019 bow.<\/p>\n
But tighthead prop Cole insists that with his Leicester-mate Julian Montoya present in their front row at hooker, they are still a formidable set-piece unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a force. Whether it\u2019s the force of your (Martin) Scelzos, (Rodrigo) Ronceros and (Mario) Ledesmas\u2026.. But you still have Montoya, who I know brilliantly well,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou look at their team in the Rugby Championship, they\u2019re dangerous. If you have one scrummage where you are not fully focused they will do you damage and get stuck into you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a dangerous team and they\u2019ve grown their game in other areas. We know what\u2019s coming up front.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love the physical contest. You speak to some of their front five \u2013 Tomas Lavanini when he was at Leicester and Montoya \u2013 and they relish the physical part of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarcos Ayerza could talk for days about the scrum, both the physical and mental aspect of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the tradition of their game, we respect that and we look forward to playing them because that\u2019s the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole will be in the front line of resistance to Argentina\u2019s forward assault at the Stade Velodrome as he prepares to take part in his fourth World Cup, either in the number three jersey or as a replacement.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old\u2019s Test career appeared to be over until Steve Borthwick\u2019s arrival as head coach offered a route back and he made his first appearance since the 2019 final in the recent Six Nations.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s scrum was overwhelmed by South Africa in Yokohama four years ago and Cole appeared to have paid the price.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI didn\u2019t think this would happen but now I\u2019m here and I\u2019m very happy and grateful to be part of it,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a surprise to get the call from Steve because I hadn\u2019t played for England for three years. I\u2019d worked with him at Leicester but he didn\u2019t give anything away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 2019 and what happened in the final, I wouldn\u2019t say it would have been easy to have packed it in, but it would have been easy to just drift.\u201d<\/p>\n
Borthwick names his starting XV on Thursday afternoon, with either Will Stuart or Kyle Sinckler joining Cole in the 23.<\/p>\n
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England\u2019s head coach faces a difficult decision at scrum-half with no clear pick emerging from the trio of Ben Youngs, Danny Care and Alex Mitchell.<\/p>\n
Manu Tuilagi is expected to be joined in the centres by either Ollie Lawrence or Joe Marchant, while two of Elliot Daly, Jonny May, Max Malins and Henry Arundell will fill the wing slots.<\/p>\n